Point of Impact
by Stephen Hunter
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Book Reviews of Point of Impact
Book Review: Wow
Summary: 5 Stars
I think the fact that I am writing a review about this book should say something for how good it is. I am not an "avid reader", I pick up a book every now and then. Nor do I write online reviews much; however, I feel that this book deserves every bit of the 5 star review that I and others have given it. The book weighs in at close to 600 pgs and I finished it in a little over a week, which for me is darn quick (normally that would take 3-4 weeks). Anyhow, I thought the pacing of the book was perfect. Hunter provides enough detail so the reader can follow, but doesn't bog the story down in overly-detailed settings.
I really got into the charecters of Swagger and Memphis and at the end really felt for charecters and the situation they were in. I really don't know what else to say. All the 5 star reviews should speak of the quality of the book. I know the movie is coming out in a few weeks so I assume the popularity of this book may rise in the coming month again. If you're reading this after watching the movie, whether it was a good or bad movie I assure you, the book is worth every bit of your time.
Book Review: Excellent Book
Summary: 4 Stars
I would never have picked up this book if it were not for "Shooter", the movie based on it. Upon reading it, I was slightly overwhelmed with the technical aspects of the shooting world. However, over all, I found the book to my liking.
I felt that the plot of "Point of Impact" was masterfully crafted. Stephen Hunter managed to lead me on a merry dance throughout the entire novel, keeping the suspense high as he did so. Although the beginning was slightly slow and dragged a bit, the book picked up once the first conflict occurred.
Character wise "Point of Impact" is lacking. *SPOILER* I failed to be surprised by any of the characters outside of Dr. Dobbler's surprising change of heart. The villains' attitudes were predictable and lackluster; Bob's character was that of a high IQ individual, failing to be surprised by anything. Although I like reading stories with these kinds of characters, I still like to see active three-dimensional characters.
This was a great book overall, something that I would recommend to people who like action and suspense novels.
Book Review: Amazon recommendation was right on the money
Summary: 5 Stars
I had never heard of this book, let alone its author Stephen Hunter. I happened to be looking through my recommendations on Amazon and found this book. I was kind of surprised, because it sounded a bit different than most of my other recommendations. Seeing that it had 5 stars with 140 reviews, I thought I'd give it a try.Wow. This book is awesome. Bob Lee Swagger is a man nobody should mess with. He's a smart, Southern boy who knows his guns and just wants to be left alone with his dog. Nick Memphis is a hard-working, well-liked FBI agent in New Orleans. The author really develops these characters (especially Swagger) to the point that I felt like I knew them and was there with them. There are so many twists & turns to this book - it's a constant game of cat & mouse and many times you're not sure who's the cat and who's the mouse.
When I finished this book I was so upset that it was over. I really, really, really enjoyed this book and I especially loved Bob Lee Swagger. Semper Fi.
Book Review: Definitely makes an impact
Summary: 4 Stars
Hunter's Point of Impact is a flawlessly constructed thriller, filled with tension, cast with variety, and packed with a convincing amount of esoteric detail on rifle shooting. Bob Lee Swagger, a veteran sharpshooter with a Vietnam past, is seen to have fired on the American President at a New Orleans speech. Having escaped, hunted by the FBI and the nation's police forces, he must fight the shadowy paramilitary group that set him up. The pace never flags, the net of sub-plots prevents monotony from ever setting in, and it all reaches a truly astonishing finale. The hero's name is interestingly chosen: the imperturbable, unbreakable Swagger is both his name's very embodiment and its antithesis. The characterisation is otherwise black-and-white, but without clichés. And the book reads as a kind of survivalist gospel. Sociology students: take note.
P.S. Don't read the two-page Swagger Family History inserted by the publisher at the beginning. It is full of spoilers.
Book Review: "It Don't Shoot"
Summary: 5 Stars
The greatest line in the book was "It Don't Shoot." For the sake of not spoiling things, I will not explain what that line means but you wlll have to read it toward the end.
This is my first Hunter novel and I was absolutely dumbfounded after reading it. Swagger is a very complex character who has a lot of ghosts from Viet Nam that still haunt him, especially the memory of his best friend getting killed by enemy fire. Swagger is one of the best snipers in the business and he is cajoled by a rogue group of secret government operatives into involving himself in an assassination plot. After the rogue operatives fail to kill him, he becomes a fugitive from justice and has to team up with a disgraced FBI agent to clear his name. Very tense thriller involving government coverups, trickery and constant grandstanding by the Asst Director of the FBI.
I could not put this one down. Hunter scores big with this one.